Jenny's Cello Studio

A Riverton Utah Cello Studio

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A life long trained cellist and a 20 year teacher, Jenny Downs is currently teaching in the southwest area of Salt Lake County, Utah. She has experience teaching preschool-adult students, beginners and transfer students as well.
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Welcome Cellists!

I am happy and grateful to have settled and built a full cello studio in the southwest area of the Salt Lake Valley over the past 10+ years. I focus on exemplary technique, tone, and expressiveness as well as performance confidence and opportunity. But more important I aim to provide positive experiences, positive feedback, and a positive self image. I believe as Sinichi Suzuki taught that, “Our aim needs to be the nurturing of children. The moment we rigidly convince ourselves, “Education is what we’re after,” we warp a child’s development. -1- First foster the heart, then help the child acquire ability. This is indeed nature’s proper way.”

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@jennydownscello
344 Posts
1.6K Followers

Jenny | Cello Teaching with 🤍

🎶~💙I Teach Music Through Cello
🎶~💙Cello Choir🤍Suzuki🤍String Quartet
🎶~💙Practice Strategies🤍Beautiful Creation
🎶~💙Mother/Daughter Music

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Also this weekend… Tyson planned for us to go away for a night to celebrate or 27th wedding anniversary that actually happened a month ago in the middle of crazy. He planned a couple of my favorite things: a hike, and more chamber music 😁🤣. We stayed and ate at Little America downtown and then walked across the street to the Grand America to see a candlelight concert of Hans Zimmer movie score music played by a string quartet. They were top notch musicians and lo and behold my own wonderful friend and colleague @nicolepinnellmusic was the cellist. You 4 played so incredibly beautiful!
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Also this weekend… Tyson planned for us to go away for a night to celebrate or 27th wedding anniversary that actually happened a month ago in the middle of crazy....

Grace’s 2nd year at the @suzukistringinstitute cello festival. 16 cellist ages 12-17 got to work with the amazing @meredith.cello, Avi Friedlander, and Riana Anthony. She got to work with all 3 through masterclass, lessons, chamber, alternative styles, and orchestra. Here’s a snippet of Avi’s alternative styles 2 class, the cute all boy trio with 2 of my students, Grace’s trio, and the fun “Golden” from K Pop demon Hunters cello orchestra arrangement led by Meredith and arranged by the amazing @andreaoncello. Next week they continue in the main week of the Intermountain Suzuki String Festival for more amazing learning and playing. This institute will have over 400 students from around the US ranging from beginning twinklers to advanced Suzuki grads with teachers from around the US and world.
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Grace’s 2nd year at the @suzukistringinstitute cello festival. 16 cellist ages 12-17 got to work with the amazing @meredith.cello, Avi Friedlander, and Riana Anthony.
She got to work with all...

Time flies when you’re having fun. And this kid had all the fun. And he worked hard, got killer grades, and excelled in his sports. He received first team all region in both football and baseball. And got himself a baseball scholarship to go pitch for one of the top Juco teams in the country which just so happens to be right down the street from us. Go Bruins. Proud of you Rocky and the amazing kid you are. @rocky_downs @titanwebagency
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Time flies when you’re having fun. And this kid had all the fun. And he worked hard, got killer grades, and excelled in his sports. He received first team all...

The baby is 13 🥹 Our youngest—cellist, cheer champ, and certified biggest dog lover. Somehow she’s an official teen today 🫣. #teen #thebaby #timeflies
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The baby is 13 🥹 Our youngest—cellist, cheer champ, and certified biggest dog lover. Somehow she’s an official teen today 🫣.
#teen #thebaby #timeflies

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He’s coming for everything he’s worked for.
#dreambig #workhard #superregionals2026 #thebuds #visualize

This @utahfusion cheer team just took GOLD at the D2 Summit Championship in Orlando, FL. Insane!! 1st team ever from Fusion Cheer to take home a championship. They out scored 27 teams. But this huge division was actually split into 2 and there was over 50 teams in the same division. And they took the highest score of ALL of them! One of a kind Mother’s Day watching your daughter and team win a championship. #D2Summit #makinghistory #elitecheer #gold
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This @utahfusion cheer team just took GOLD at the D2 Summit Championship in Orlando, FL.
Insane!! 1st team ever from Fusion Cheer to take home a championship. They out scored...

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Made a lil music video tribute to our amazing @riverton_baseball_highschool seniors. Amazing boys. Go be unstoppable in life! #baseballlife⚾️ #seniornight

Happy Birthday to my oldest daughter. The last slide - right in the heart.♥️ @elena.downs
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Happy Birthday to my oldest daughter. The last slide - right in the heart.♥️ @elena.downs

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Echoes Beneath the Rain. Composed last week during a rainy spring break day.
Full version on my YouTube channel: jennyscellostudio2 Link in my bio.
#cello #healingmusic #rainyday #creativity #meditation

Envision it. Hear it. See it. Believe it. Know it. You are unstoppable. #belief #musicability #sportsmentality #mindset #seeittobelieveit
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Envision it. Hear it. See it. Believe it. Know it. You are unstoppable.
#belief #musicability #sportsmentality #mindset #seeittobelieveit

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My newest cello composition. Springtime. Video done with my newest spring pictures. It’s more like a meditative etude 🤭.
#musicisfun #justbecause #springishere #cello #meditation

I didn’t know this cool museum existed. Tyson planned for us to go here. It huge and set up really well. They give you headphones and there are videos at each country showing the instruments being played- you only hear it when you get close to the monitors. There’s so many instruments and things to read. A tad overwhelming. Could potentially spend a day there. So if you ever get the chance, go visit… #musiceducation #instruments #musicalinstrumentmuseum
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I didn’t know this cool museum existed. Tyson planned for us to go here. It huge and set up really well. They give you headphones and there are videos at...

Always grateful for those that treat my kid with kindness, patience, and love. #DDawareness #DevelopmentalDisabilitiesAwarenessMonth
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Always grateful for those that treat my kid with kindness, patience, and love.
#DDawareness #DevelopmentalDisabilitiesAwarenessMonth

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The harpist! 🫶🫶🫶🫶 This past weekend I had not 1, but 2 book 6 recitals where they get to play the infamous Saint-Saens piece “The Swan”. I caught pics and...

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Favorite times: when we’re all (mostly) together.
#familytime #gamenight #fulllife

Sometimes the best therapy is four resonant strings and a bow. #cello #healingmusic #emotionregulation #feeling #artistry
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Sometimes the best therapy is four resonant strings and a bow. #cello #healingmusic #emotionregulation #feeling #artistry

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This piece is “Wandering”. My 2nd “healing cello” composition. Set to beach videos with background wave sounds that I took in Hawaii in January.
#healingcello #soothingsounds #waves #cello #create

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My 1st composition Healing Begins- put to my own photos. I’ll be adding the sheet music to my website soon. But for now, shoot me a message if you’d like...

Take your time… #cellotruths #lifewisdom #resonance #aginglikefinewood
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Take your time…
#cellotruths #lifewisdom #resonance #aginglikefinewood

Last night I celebrated my last day of 49 🤣 with my kids and parents. Elena secured me the new “Jessica” @jane and @hydrojug collab. Literally was release Saturday. My mom got me some more sourdough bread supplies including the killer gamechanging bow bread knife. Tyson had a friend make her white chocolate raspberry sourdough. And I got the new trending vibrating machine- guys, I’m not even sure what it’s called. But I’ll have to do some research on it. Is it legit? A gimmick? Anyway, looking forward to creating a good year. #50years
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Last night I celebrated my last day of 49 🤣 with my kids and parents.
Elena secured me the new “Jessica” @jane and @hydrojug collab. Literally was release Saturday.
My...

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Iykyk- I think most people are aware of the Prelude Bach’s Suite in G. But did you know each suite has 6 movements and there are 6 suites?? 🤯 If...

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So I tried a new thing. I sat down to play around with what it would take to come up with “healing” cello music. 30 seconds in I pulled out...

That’s like calling a cathedral a large shed. 💙to my violin friends #orchestrahumor #cellotruths #respecthebass #notaviolin #musicianmemes
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That’s like calling a cathedral a large shed. 💙to my violin friends #orchestrahumor #cellotruths #respecthebass #notaviolin #musicianmemes

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Came home one night and she said, “Guess what I did today?” So here is her practice tip.
#practicetips #practice #musiclessons #becoming #suzuki

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Wild huh? 🤔 Musicians…do your scales!
#musician #cellolife #schoolorchestra #habits #musicmakestheworldgoround

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#daughters #galentines #notsoartsy #poppi

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The athlete kid, who hated taking piano lessons as a kid(therefore was short lived)- asked me to teach him piano this week. Told me 15 min a day. On day...

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Should I keep going? Scales get a bad rap. We don’t like them (by we I mean student musicians). But they are the literal building block of music. Repertoire is the house. Scales are the bricks. #scales #musiceducation #cellists #practicetips #buildingblocks
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Should I keep going?
Scales get a bad rap. We don’t like them (by we I mean student musicians). But they are the literal building block of music. Repertoire is...

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#celloteacher #atomichabits #memory #leftbeforeright #wins

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Allow me to reintroduce myself.

What started as a passion turned into a career… and somewhere along the way, a mission. #cellolife #theyeariturn50 #momlife #celloteacher #musicforthesoul

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But what does that even mean??
Thousands of notes?
Hundreds of mistakes?
Days I didn’t want to practice?
Moments I almost quit? Partially—- but it’s also leaving everything you’ve got,...

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Currently accepting donations to send me back to Hawaii. 🌴 But, I mean, we did hit 60 degrees in February here in Utah, so… I’m pretty sure Hawaii tried to...

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Made a video of photos. Look at this very non tech savvy girl go.
#photos #makingreels #havingfun #winterbeach #sunshine

And not just sorta. Like immediately 😬😬😬 . It’s ok though. That’s one of the reasons we have someone to keep pushing and prodding us along the journey. The consistency can be harder than the instrument. We’re learning more than just music here. #practicehabits #consistencyiskey #musicmakers #wegotthis #keeponkeepingon
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And not just sorta. Like immediately 😬😬😬 .
It’s ok though. That’s one of the reasons we have someone to keep pushing and prodding us along the journey. The consistency...

I’m really interested in the effects of music on the body and brain. I wonder if playing cello is the reason my resting heart rate is under 50bpm. It was actually while listening to a podcast on insulin and how cortisol is spiked by stress that I went searching for what these “stresses” are that raise it. Turns out life is one big stress fest… But activities that engage the parasympathetic system help to regulate and lower. (Breathing, rest, etc…) And certain types of music are one of these regulators as well. Music- keeping me alive and giving me nervous system therapy. #musictherapy #parasympathetic #musiceducation #musicismedicine #musicforthesoul
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I’m really interested in the effects of music on the body and brain.
I wonder if playing cello is the reason my resting heart rate is under 50bpm.
It was...

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Be steady for them. The work is settling in. #highperformance #kidsworld #sportskids #musickids #parents

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What feels boring or tedious or insignificant today
becomes ease later.
#keepgoing #practice #itsthelittlethingsthatcount #sportsandmusic #suzukistrings

Over the past handful of years I have made small changes to the way I set up my lessons as well as slowly added different options for a growing number of different needs. Weekly 1-1 lessons are the model we are used to, and the one I still subscribe to as the optimal learning experience for most young learners. But, I don’t just teach the the optimal young student, that has the funds, the dedicated family support, the same learning style or abilities, the same goals and drive. I teach returning to the cello adults, new cello adults, kids with learning disabilities, families with limited funds (yes, cello isn’t cheap-the instrument or a highly trained teacher), cellists with hectic or unpredictable schedules. I’ve added different modalities of learning. And most recently, as I’ve thought about how to reach the hundreds of kids who start in their school orchestras, but can’t commit either time or $ to private lessons, I’ve come up with options to help them and others who just need occasional help. My weekly 1-1 lessons are typically always full. These other options help get some started while they are waiting for that optimal spot. It’s been tricky unwiring my brain to the one way I’ve known, but guess what? Cello is actually becoming increasingly popular. Most of the best teachers here in the valley are booked solid. So these changes and options began when I considered how to make my reach go a little further. No cello teacher wants to turn away another human wanting to play the best instrument ever made. But we have to, because there’s only so many hours in a day. The Practice Space has been really great for some of my students to have all their assignments and videos in one accessible place. I’ve also had a couple of which this isn’t their ideal learning situation. So we pivoted to a different option. But it’s another option if you are remote- literally anywhere in the world- because the clock doesn’t determine lesson time. I’m happy with what my offerings have the ability to reach and do for up and coming cellists. And yes, my life is a myriad of spreadsheets 🤣. #cellolife #musiceducation #homeschooloptions #learnsomethingnew
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Over the past handful of years I have made small changes to the way I set up my lessons as well as slowly added different options for a growing number...

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5 months in, this 9 year old brought me his dad’s favorite piece to add to the mix. 🤣🤣 . OK rhythm wizard, let’s do it! This is after 1...

Have you ever made yourself aware of how often you judge or find fault with people throughout 1 day? Warning: 😬 it’s eye opening. When we aren’t aware, we can spiral into assumptions that harden the heart and call them truth. Here’s your invitation to observe. #love #healing #godislove #judgement #openheart
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Have you ever made yourself aware of how often you judge or find fault with people throughout 1 day? Warning: 😬 it’s eye opening. When we aren’t aware, we can...

When the skill is new but the belief shows up first. #confidencefirst #beginnermusician #studentwins #teacherlıfe #musiclessons
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When the skill is new but the belief shows up first. #confidencefirst #beginnermusician #studentwins #teacherlıfe #musiclessons

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He’s 20!! If you know Cy you probably love him. He’s the best of the best. Go wish him a happy birthday today or write it here and I’ll share...

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Comparison slows learning. • • one person’s tone improves first
• another’s intonation clicks later
• someone else just grew six inches and has to re-learn balance. You don’t see...

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“Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out.” — Robert Collier
We all know, consistency is key. But somehow that’s often the hardest part.
Just...

Teaching cello has taught me a universal truth… we all try to go faster or do more- when what actually moves us forward is slowing down and doing less, well. #cellotruths #wisdomoftheday #universaltruth #dailydose #practicetips
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Teaching cello has taught me a universal truth… we all try to go faster or do more- when what actually moves us forward is slowing down and doing less, well....

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Do the right thing Utah.
@govcox @utahlegislaturestaff @aclu_utah @utahparentcenter @lcpd_utah #utahlegislature #disabilityawareness #dspd #dotherightthing

Over the years of raising a child with disabilities in the school system…supports, resources, and opportunities increased tremendously over the time he was small to just a few years ago, when he aged out at 22. The changes and rights and supports by the end of his journey through school seemed almost miraculous. I felt blessed to have all the things the state of Utah has done to make huge strides. Now they are looking at making cuts. And I’m not sure what the reasoning is behing this as I am just seeing this. But these kids and families need every bit of support. This will effect major programs that has been a literal life saver for us that i wish every family with children with disabilities could benefit from- and i truly want these programs for them. Please sign and help stop cuts from happening . https://c.org/smRWyv9Ymftm - Go to my stories to click the link. #disabilityawareness #Utahkids #utahlegislature
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Over the years of raising a child with disabilities in the school system…supports, resources, and opportunities increased tremendously over the time he was small to just a few years ago,...

Several years ago I attended a marriage class at BYU Ed week that talked about what we invest our time and money in. I think the teacher may have given the example of doing quarterly getaways with your spouse because that’s what I remember coming away with. I shared it with Tyson. He was on board. And, in fact, makes them happen 99% of the time. Generally it’s a big getaway once a year. And this was it for 2026. And then usually a few more smaller overnight ones close to home throughout the year. I can’t give you much marriage advice, but I’ll give you that one. Invest time and $$ in what you’re trying to make last. (And marry someone that will do all the planning 🤣). A HUGE thank you to @nixkole who did a photo shoot for us near La’ie. She’s a college student @ BYUHawaii who’s the daughter of dear friend of ours. Reach out to her if you need pics next time you are on Oahu. She did an awesome job! #hawaii2026 #getaway #marriageadvice #photoshoot
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Several years ago I attended a marriage class at BYU Ed week that talked about what we invest our time and money in. I think the teacher may have given...

"If he or she really goes about it in earnest, anyone can cultivate ability in ten years, I believe. Even in one year, shortcomings can be changed into good points if only we set our aims high enough. Continuing for ten years, we can become outstanding indeed...There is no limit to our shortcomings. Until we die, we should spare no time or effort in changing our weaknesses to merits. To do so can be pleasant and interesting. We can become like the horse that starts last and yet outruns the field, reaching the wire first; it is the same fun."
― Shinichi Suzuki, Nurtured by Love: The Classic Approach to Talent Education